peculiarities of birds when he left the gallery than when he entered
it. But if, somewhere in that vast hall, there were a few preparations,
exemplifying the leading structural peculiarities and the mode of
development of a common fowl; if the types of the genera, the leading
modifications in the skeleton, in the plumage at various ages, in the
mode of nidification, and the like, among birds, were displayed; and if
the other specimens were put away in a place where the men of science,
to whom they are alone useful, could have free access to them, I can
conceive that this collection might become a great instrument of
scientific education.

The last implement of the teacher to which I have adverted is
examination--a means of education now so thoroughly understood that I
need hardly enlarge upon it. I hold that both written and oral
examinations are indispensable, and, by requiring the description of
specimens, they may be made to supplement demonstration.

Such is the fullest reply the time at my disposal will allow me to give
to the question--how may a knowledge of zoology be best acquired and
communicated?

But there is a previous question which may be moved, and which, in fact,
I know many are inclined to move. It is the question, why should
training masters be encouraged to acquire a knowledge of this, or any
other branch of physical science? What is the use, it is said, of
attempting to make physical science a branch of primary education? Is
it not probable that teachers, in pursuing such studies, will be led
astray from the acquirement of more important but less attractive
knowledge? And, even if they can learn something of science without
prejudice to their usefulness, what is the good of their attempting to